Lent Friendly Recipes - abstain from meat

For this Lenten season, I have decided to abstain from meat the entire 40 days and blog about it every day as my break from my usual routine. For Catholics during Lent, the practice is to abstain from meat on Fridays. Meat is considered to be the flesh and organs of mammals and fowl. Also forbidden are soups or gravies made from them. Salt and freshwater species of fish, amphibians, reptiles and shellfish are permitted, as are animal derived products such as margarine and gelatin which do not have any meat taste.

It's the flesh of mammals....I am not sure what you mean my "mammal derived". Of course I can google "vegetarian recipes" or buy a cookbook, but I am looking for recipes you've actually tried. Do you have any?

Yep I've tons of recipes - I'm vegetarian. I guess I'd like a little more direction before I suggest recipes since it's like asking me 'what's a good recipe'. I have no idea what sort of foods you like or your kitchen skills - that's why I suggested you search for recipes that may appeal and then ask questions (eg, is there a vegetable thing that I can use like meat in x recipe or does this recipe sound good/right). There are also so many 'traditional' foods that already are vegetarian (see the thread about vegetarian foods you don't consider vegetarian) - so are you looking for something more vegan?

Lastly, why would gelatin be allowed since its derived from the bones and hoofs of mammals and fowl? COuld you eat the marrow or stock made from just bones? I'm curious about where is the line drawn and why.

My kitchen skills are excellent - I'm confident I can make any recipe you throw at me. Give it a whirl...

My tastes are pretty much open with regard to vegetarian recipes. Not sure how you define vegetarian. Do you eat eggs, cheese, dairy? Then that meets the Catholic definition of abstaining from meat. The only vegetable I don't really like is rutabaga on it's own, but I love it in pasties! I'm not really fond of couscous or polenta, but for the right recipe, I might give it a shot.

The spirit of the abstaining from meat is to avoid anything that is remisicient of the taste of meat. That's why gelatin is okay - it doesn't tatse like meat. Since you are a vegetarian, you might not be aware that a properly made stock includes meat and bones and tastes of meat. Marrow tastes like meat. But if you've got a great vegetarian stock recipe, I'd love to hear about it - I've yet to try a vegetable stock that tastes great. Or, I'd like to hear about your personal favorite vegetarian recipe - why do you like it and why.

I've never heard anything in all of my 37 Catholic years about abstaining from things that "taste of meat." It's hooved animals (ungulates) that we're to abstain from, meaning even poultry is acceptable to eat. Marrow would count, in my book, as meat because you're eating part of the animal. And why torture yourself eating margarine when you can have butter? It's only the Eastern and Orthodox Christian religions that abstain from all animal products including dairy. For Roman Catholics, Canon Law doesn't even specify that it's meat we're to abstain from, it merely says we are to voluntarily abstain and fast as economic situation allows (1966 Apostolic Constitution of Pope Paul VI, Paenitemini). One may also substitute fasting and abstinence with prayer and works of charity. Current Canon law actually says that ALL Fridays are to be days of abstinence, but this is not practiced by US bishops. It's merely the accepted tradition that makes us abstain from meat specifically as a Lenten "sacrifice."

Personally, I do not abstain from meat. I don't like most meat very much, so to me it's not a sacrifice for me to give it up for a day.

MK - I am very aware of what goes into stock since I make 2 huge batches of veal and beef stock a year, chicken almost monthly, and vegetable weekly. I eat vegetarian but serve the food people want and like.

My vegetable stock: In old water, onions, carrots, celery, leek, peppercorns, garlic, bay leaf and kombu (until the pot reaches a boil then removed) boiled for 45-60 minutes (until the vegetables no long have a taste). If I have other vegetable cuttings leftover, I'll add them (and note on the storage bag the predominate flavors).

Again, offering my favorite vegetarian recipe is difficult - I don't have a favorite meal. I'll give you what I ate this past week and if any sounds interesting, let me know.

D - Mushroom ragout over garbanzo flour pancakes with an arugula saladB - Mush ragout and spinach in a omeletL - Leek and potato soup (inspired by another thread) and cheese sandwichD - Mush ragout as the basis for a pasta sauce and steamed spinachB - Steel cut oats with blueberries and milkL - Eggplant rotini from the freezerD - Bean and adobo chili over rice with many toppingsB - Oats againL - Quesadillas made withe the chili reduced and blendedD - Stir fry with 'mock meat' (a loaf I make with tofu and vital wheat gluten) over the previously made riceB - Oats again (Alas, I made a big pot)L - Mushroom and spinach lasagna from the freezerD - PizzaB - Breakfast burrito with fried egg, tomato lettuceL - Mock meat BBQ pork sandwiches and fried applesD - Mac and cheeseB - Frittata (there was an accumulation of small amounts of vegetables in the ref)L - Quick fried slaw of cabbage, onions and tofuD - Dan Dan Noodles with edemame and greens

I also like chilies rellano, mixed bean and vegetable stews varying the seasonings based on cultures, stuffed peppers, cabbage or squash. Fast food for me is lentils or some preparation of the mock meat I have previously made.

My untraditional version of Chilies relleno not the for feint (or weak) hearted:

- Make a beer batter (bottle of beer, enough flour to make a semi-thick slurry, 1 or 2 T of baking powder, salt) and let it rest while making the rest (at least 1/2 hour).- Make (or pull from the frig) a salsa verde, a rancher/red chili sauce, and salsa fresca (let me know if you need ingredients)- Roast and peel fresh poblano chilies (I'll sometimes substitute another large chili). - Make a slit in the side and clean out the seeds- Fill with a mixture of roasted corn, cheddar and Monterrey jack (variations include the addition of roasted red peppers, roasted jalapenos, onions, etc and varying the cheeses- Close the slit in the side with a small skewer- Heat enough oil in a pan to come just over half-way up the sides of the chilies- Dredge chilies in S&P flour, then dunk in batter, shake and place in pan- Fry until brown on all sides

I serve this in ceramic TV dinner trays. In the large area of the tray, I put green sauce on one side and red sauce on the other. The chili is then lain on top. In the three other tray spaces are spiced rice, salsa fresca, and 'refried' black or kidney beans. I dress the plate with avocado slices and cilantro. On the table, I serve the sauces for those who want more, limes slices, and fage (in place of sour cream - got to draw the line somewhere).

Eastern Orthodox have kept Lenten fasting practices more rigorously than Catholics. So there are a number of Greek, Middle Eastern (Lebanese, etc), and Russian dishes that fall in this category. Italian and Spanish cookbooks also have traditional dishes for this time of the year (including all the salt cod preparations).

Ths recipe was published in the NY Times last November as a suggested Thanksgiving side dish. It originated from Jeremy Fox, chef at the vegetarian restaurant and yoga studio Ubuntu in Napa, Calif.

I saved the recipe because, even though I don’t generally like Brussels sprouts, this looked interesting. But I didn’t get around to making it until just last week. I cut the recipe in half and used gala apples, canned apple nectar instead of juice and rice because I had those items already on hand. The only tedious part of this preparation is separating the leaves.

The result was an utterly pleasing medley of flavors that combine very well to make this dish a standout. Definitely a keeper.